Combined tray or the like and amusement device



Sept. 11, 1934. c T. JOSLIN 1,973,567

COMBINED TRAY OR THE LIKE AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1932 a N T 2 a E6: 3 6/7ar/a5 7. ./0$//'n by W the ATTURNE E Patented Sept. 11, 1934 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED TRAY OR THE LIKE AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE 7 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to an amusement device in which a figure simulating an animal is mounted on a base andnormally invisible means provided for expelling a jet of liquid from a portion of the animal. The base may advantageously be formed as a tray for ashes, cigarettes and the like and may also be designed to simulate a woodland scene.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the specification and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated one embodiment thereof and in whichi Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view; and

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing 10 is a base made of any suitable material such as plaster of Paris or cast iron the exposed surface of which inthe embodiment illustrated is formed to simulate the appearance of a section of woodland.

The lower portion of the base is provided with a recess 11 which is preferably lined with'sheet metal 12 or other suitable material. The wall defining the recess may conveniently be formed of a substantially cylindrical member 10a simulating in appearance a section of a log. Mounted within the recess is a normally inaccessible fluid tight receptacle 13 the lower wall 13:; of which is collapsible and is exposed on the lower side of the device thereby enabling the person who is handling it to press the wall 13a upwardly. The receptacle 13 may conveniently be formed of a tube of rubber or other collapsible material, the

ends of which are closed and made fluid tight by suitable plugs or discs 14. The receptacle is supported in position by cross straps 15 which may be secured to the base 10 as by screws 16. It will, of course, be understood that the receptacle 13 may be made, and in practice I prefer to make it in the form .of a continuous bulb.

On the upper side of the base is mounted a Figure 17 which simulates an animal in shape and appearance. The figure in the embodiment illustrated is that of a skunk although it will, of course, be understood that figures of other animals may likewise be used.

The Figure 1'? is provided with an opening 18 which preferably extends therethrough. Atube 19 extends through the opening and communicates with the receptacle 13 and preferably extends upwardly beyond the figure to provide a convenient inlet through which the receptacle may be filled with a suitable liquid. The sheet metal lining 11 is preferably provided with an upwardly extending lug 20 provided with an opening in which the tube 19 is received, the

lower endof the tube preferably being flanged outwardly as at 21 and cemented or otherwise secured to. the receptacle 13. The tube 19 is preferably provided with an opening 22 in the wall thereof which communicates with an orifice 23 with which the Figure 17 is provided.

The fluid with which the receptacle is filled preferably contains material having an agreeable scent which forms a pleasant contrast to that which is secreted in and expelled from the perineal glands of the skunk. The-upper end of the tubular member is normally closed by a stopper indicated generally at 24 which forms a part of the tail 25 or other member of the animal. In the embodiment illustrated, a sleeve 26 fits over the tube 19 and is provided at its upper end with a cap 27 provided with an opening 28 in which is secured a plug or stopper 29 which is received in the tubular member 19. The bristles or hairs 36 which simulate the tail of the skunk may be secured to the sleeve 26 as by a thread or wire 31, the tail or other member of the figure thus serving to conceal the end of the tube.

The device is also preferably provided with an ash tray 32 which is located in a member 33 simulating a hollow stump, and is aiso provided with a substantially semi-cylindrical element 34 simulating a section of a hollow tree which may receive a cigar, pipe, or cigarette.

Initially the receptacle l3 and the tube 19 are filled through the tube with a liquid preferably to a level slightly below that of the orifice 23 as indicated in Fig. 3.

By lifting the device, the lower wall of the receptacle 13 is accessible to the hand of the user although invisible to a spectator, and by collapsing the wall 13a of the receptacle 13, fluid is forced through the orifice 23 to simulate the jet of the secretion which is expelled from the perinea'i glands of the skunk. The stopper for the tube 28 permits sufficient pressure to be built up within the receptacle to force the jet or spray from the orifice 23.

The device is also useful, particularly when used in a smokers set as in the embodiment illustrated, for extinguishing a cigarette or cigar. It is well known that a cigarette butt when thrown away continues to burn and give off offensive odors.

tion rather than of limitation and that the draw:

ing is merely illustrative. Hence changes within the purview of the appended'claims"mayv be made without departing from thetrue scope and spirit of my invention in its'broad'enaspects.

What I claim is: v

1. In an ornamental amusement'devicepa substantially rigid supporting base provided .in its lower portion with a recess, a normally invisible "and inaccessible substantially fluid tightireceptw olemounted insaidi'ecesssand providedwith ta collapsible wall exposed onlyfo'n :the': lower ssid'eioi thedevice, and; a figure simulating an animal in shape-andappearance mounted on. said'basasaid 'figure beingprovided with opening, andta'single tube received in said openingand communicating with said receptacle and with the 55111- rounding medium.

2. In an ornamental amusementdevice, a sub-- stantially rigid=supporting baseprovide'd tin its lower portion with arecess, anormal ly invisible and inaccessible receptacle 1 mounted Lin said 1recess, said receptacle being provided on its lower "sidewith a collapsible wall exposed-onlyfonzthe lower side ofthe base by which liquidlmay' be=expelled from thereceptacle,: and a'figuresimulating an animal 1 insshape-and appearance mounted on saidbase, saidfigure'beingprovidedwith anopening; and a singletubecommunicating with saidre- 'ceptacle and received-insaid-opening, said figure beingprovided with a lateralorifice connecting said opening to the surrounding medium, :and "said 5 tube being provided with an opening com- -municating with said orifice.

3. Inan amusement device, :a substantially rigid supporting base provided in .iits :lower :p'or- ='tion with-arecess, a normally invisible and inaccessible receptacle mounted in -said recess, said receptacle being provided: on itsilower sideflwithzta collapsible wall exposed only' onfthellower side of 'thedevice and by which liquidmay be expelled from thereceptacle, and'a figure simulating an 'animal in shape andappearance mounted onsaid base, said'figure being provided with an opening communicating with said receptacle 'andwith 'two'passages furnishing communication between said opening and the surrounding :medium, one of said passages serving as an inletthrough which said receptacle may be filled and the otherpas- "sage being in direct communication with said medium.

4. 'In' an amusement device, a substantially rigid supporting base provided in its'loweriportion with a recess, a normally invisible and inaccessible receptacle'mounted in said recess, said receptacle being provided on its lower side with a collapsible wall exposed only on the lower side of the device and by which fluid may be expelled from the receptacle, and a figure simulating an animal in shape and appearance mounted on said base, said figure being provided with a single opening communicating with said receptacle and with two passages furnishing "communication between said openingan'dzthe surrounding medium, one of said passages serving as an inlet through which said receptacle may be filled, and the other passage :being in permanent communication with said medium.

.;5.iIn an amusement device, a supporting base providedin its lower portion with a recess, a normany inaccessible receptacle mounted in said recess, said receptacle being provided on its lower sidewith'a collapsiblewall exposed on the lower sidecofthe device and by which fluid may be expelled from the receptacle, and a figure simulating an animalzin'ishapei'andtappearance mounted on said base, saidtfigure "being :provided with .an opening communicating with said receptacle and with'twoipassages furnishing communication :be- Ctween' said opening and the :surrounding medium, .one :of .said passagesrserving 1 as an .inlet through #which saidireceptacle may :betfilled, amember of said figure ibeing providediwith astopper for said .iinlet passagaand the other passage beingiin permanentrc'ommunic'ation with saidimedium.

6. In an amusement device, aisupporting base providedioniits lower side with :a'recess, anor- ;m'ally. inaccessiblereceptacle'mountedwithinsaid :recess, aifigure simulating-an: animal in shape and appearance mounted on said base, said receptacle beingprovided witha collapsible wall, said'figure being provided with an opening,:a tube. communieating with said receptacle'an'd extending upwardly through :-said opening,;said :figure being pro- "vided 'with an orifice communicating with said opening and the surroundingimedium and said ;tube :beingprovided with :a. lateral opening com- :municating with :said orifice, :said'tube having an "opening at. its end, vsand .a stopper .for said latter .op'ening awhereby rpressure :appliedlto the wall of said receptacle 'BXD'BIS liquid through :said 'IOIifiCE. 1'7. :"In :an amusement device, :a supporting ."base 'iprovidedon its lower side'with a' recess, a normally inacc'essible rreceptacle .mounted :within said recess, n figure :simulatingvan animal in shape and appearancetmounted :onvsai'dzbase, said receptacle being provided with sa=zcollapsible .wall, "said fig- :ure being. provided with: anaopening, a tube: com- .amunicating with said receptacle 1 and extending iupwardly through said opening; said'figurebeing provided withian orifice communicating'with said aopening rand the surrounding medium zand said :tube being provided with a lateral opening com- :municatingiwith said-orifice, azmember of :said cfigurezbeing t provided with astopper for the .ex- 3 tposedtendnf saiditubular element and constructed iand-Jarrangedtto concealisaidltube, whereby pres- .sureiappliedito ithe oollapsible wallaof :said receptaclezexpelsfaijet'ni vfluidifromthe orifice of said figure. 14c

use

(CHARLES .T. JOSLIN. 

